APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF THE MAY 23 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002893 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2015 TAGS: CH PREL SU MARR MOPS TU EUN SUBJECT: APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF THE MAY 23 GAERC FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING REF: STATE 90085 Classified By: Political Counselor John Kunstadter; reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) As part of Embassy Ankara's ongoing effort to advise the Turkish MFA of USG positions vis-a-vis the European Union, we delivered reftel demarche to MFA European Union Directorate Political Affairs Department Head Hakan Akbulut, who initially asserted that Turkey had parallel attitudes as the EU on various issues. Akbulut promised to forward reftel demarche to relevant MFA departments and noted that Turkey already participates in various EU initiatives and statements. -------------- China -------------- ¶2. (C) Akbulut averred Turkey is aware of the dynamic of U.S.-EU-China relations. He conceded that Turkey will have to make a difficult political decision regarding China while claiming that Turkey is making an effort to adopt EU policy positions. He commented that Turkey had not participated in the three EU statements on China in the past year. -------------- ESDP -------------- ¶3. (C) Akbulut stated that Turkey had already supported the EU statement concerning European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) framework. He confirmed that Turkey supports a close relationship between NATO and the EU but alluded to difficulties by pointing out that the EU wants "Southern Cyprus" to participate in regional security arrangements as well. -------------- Sudan -------------- ¶4. (C) Akbulut claimed that Turkey supports the U.S. position. EDELMAN